Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Facebook Buys Translation, Voice-Recognition Firm

Facebook this week acquired Mobile Technologies, maker of translation and voice-recognition tools like Jibbigo, in an effort to boost the social network's global presence.

"It has always been our mission to make the world more open and connected," Facebook product management director Tom Stocky said in astatement. "Although more than a billion people around the world already use Facebook every month, we are always looking for ways to help connect the rest of the world as well."

Voice technology could be the answer. Features like Siri and Google Now have already made it easier for people to navigate mobile devices, and the addition of similar services to Facebook "will help us evolve our products to match that evolution," Stocky said.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. But the social network will continue to support Mobile Technologies's Jibbigo app, a Facebook spokesman told CNET.

The Jibbigo app offers speech-to-speech translations at your fingertips, online and off, so users can understand their surroundings even without a network connection (for an added price). Just speak to the device or enter text to see and hear the translation in more than 25 languages.

"Facebook, with its mission to make the world more open and connected, provides the perfect platform to apply our technology at a truly global scale," Mobile Technologies said in a statement. "We look forward to continuing to develop our technology at Facebook and finding new and interesting ways to apply it to Facebook's long-term product roadmap."

Neither Facebook nor Mobile Technologies immediately responded to PCMag's request for comment. According to CNET, the acquired staff will move to Facebook's Menlo Park, Calif., campus once the deal closes.

Facebook Buys Translation, Voice-Recognition Firm

Facebook this week acquired Mobile Technologies, maker of translation and voice-recognition tools like Jibbigo, in an effort to boost the social network's global presence.

"It has always been our mission to make the world more open and connected," Facebook product management director Tom Stocky said in astatement. "Although more than a billion people around the world already use Facebook every month, we are always looking for ways to help connect the rest of the world as well."

Voice technology could be the answer. Features like Siri and Google Now have already made it easier for people to navigate mobile devices, and the addition of similar services to Facebook "will help us evolve our products to match that evolution," Stocky said.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. But the social network will continue to support Mobile Technologies's Jibbigo app, a Facebook spokesman told CNET.

The Jibbigo app offers speech-to-speech translations at your fingertips, online and off, so users can understand their surroundings even without a network connection (for an added price). Just speak to the device or enter text to see and hear the translation in more than 25 languages.

"Facebook, with its mission to make the world more open and connected, provides the perfect platform to apply our technology at a truly global scale," Mobile Technologies said in a statement. "We look forward to continuing to develop our technology at Facebook and finding new and interesting ways to apply it to Facebook's long-term product roadmap."

Neither Facebook nor Mobile Technologies immediately responded to PCMag's request for comment. According to CNET, the acquired staff will move to Facebook's Menlo Park, Calif., campus once the deal closes.